The flowing tradition of Sages in Ramcharitmanas

By: Rajendra Kapil

First Step, Creator of Ramayana – Sage Valmiki

Sage Valmiki is referred to as the “Adikavi” (the first poet) because the first verse ever composed came from his mouth, which laid the foundation of the great epic, Ramayana, in Sanskrit. It was in his hermitage that Mother Sita, during her pregnancy, sought refuge and gave birth to the two handsome princes, Luv and Kush. Valmiki was born in the lineage of Sage Bhrigu during the Treta Yuga, and his childhood name was Ratnakar. As he grew up, he married and had children, but during a severe famine, it became difficult for him to sustain his family. This hardship turned him into a notorious bandit who robbed travelers passing through the forest.

One day, he encountered Sage Narad, and when Ratnakar tried to rob him, Narad Muni attempted to explain that his actions were sinful. Ratnakar replied, “No, this is my livelihood, and I do it to support my family.” Then, Narad Muni posed a question, “Will your family share the burden of your sins?” Ratnakar responded, “Perhaps, yes.” Narad Muni suggested, “Go and ask them, and I will wait here for your return.” Being a saint, Narad stayed where he was. When Ratnakar returned after speaking with his family, he was deeply disappointed, for his family had refused to partake in his sinful actions.

This realization led Narad Muni to impart wisdom and devotion to Ratnakar, showing him the right path. Narad suggested that he chant the simple mantra, “Ram.” However, Ratnakar’s soul had become so tainted that he couldn’t even utter the name “Ram.” Instead, the only words that came out were “Mara Mara” (which, when repeated, still forms “Ram”). Through this inversion, Ratnakar’s spiritual transformation occurred, and he became the sage Valmiki. As Tulsidas writes:

“The great mantra, which Mahesh chants for liberation in Kashi,
Made the Adikavi pure through its inverted utterance.”

Narad Muni reassured him, saying, “Do not worry. This is a great mantra, one that even Lord Shiva chants constantly. You may chant it however you like—forward or backward—but with a sincere heart, and you will certainly be saved.” Over time, Ratnakar’s repeated chanting of “Mara Mara” transformed him into the enlightened sage Valmiki.

Until this time, Valmiki had no knowledge of Sanskrit. Yet, one day, a Sanskrit verse spontaneously flowed from his mouth. This occurred when Valmiki was sitting in a grove, observing a pair of Krauncha birds absorbed in love. Suddenly, a hunter came and shot one of the birds with his arrow, killing it. The sight of the other bird’s agony moved Valmiki, awakening the poet within him, and he cursed the hunter with the following verse:

“O hunter! May you never find peace for all eternity,
for you killed one of a pair of Krauncha birds absorbed in love.”

This was Valmiki’s first verse, which laid the foundation of the Ramayana. Later, Goswami Tulsidas, after reading this Ramayana, composed the Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi, making the story of Ram accessible to the common people. The Ramcharitmanas mentions Sage Valmiki and his hermitage during the Ayodhya Kand, when Ram, while wandering in exile, reached Valmiki’s hermitage:

“Ram beheld the lovely hermitage with his lotus eyes,
And hearing of Ram’s arrival, the sage came forward to greet him.”

Valmiki was filled with joy upon seeing Ram. When the sage heard of Ram’s arrival, he personally came to the gate to welcome him. Ram greeted the sage with great respect, offering a prostration.

“Ram bowed low to the sage,
And the wise Brahmin blessed him.
Beholding Ram’s divine beauty,
The sage joyfully led him to the hermitage.”

Valmiki’s disciples warmly welcomed Ram:

“Dearly beloved guests of the sage,
They offered them sweet fruits, roots, and flowers.”

Valmiki himself was overwhelmed by emotion upon seeing his honored guests. After a day or two of rest, Ram asked the sage, “O great sage, where should I build my hut?” Knowing that the one asking was none other than the Supreme Being, Valmiki responded not with an answer but with a question:

“You ask me where you should stay,
But it is I who am hesitant to answer.
Show me a place where you are not present,
And I will show you where to build your dwelling.”

This was a deeply philosophical question. Ram, hearing the profound words of the sage, smiled:

“Hearing the sage’s love-filled words,
Ram smiled modestly.”

Then, as a devotee, Valmiki spoke:

“Listen, Ram, and I will tell you where to dwell with Sita and Lakshman.”

Valmiki advised Ram to dwell in the hearts of devotees who have ears like the ocean, ever eager to receive the streams of Ram’s story, their hearts never content but always yearning for more.

After this heartfelt conversation, Valmiki suggested that Ram build his hut near the Chitrakoot mountain. Ram, with Lakshman’s help, built his hut at Chitrakoot and lived there for many years with the sage Valmiki and many other sages. Today, Chitrakoot has become one of the most important pilgrimage sites, with thousands of devotees visiting each year, completing the Chitrakoot Parikrama and feeling Ram’s divine presence.

I humbly bow to the great Sage Valmiki, the architect of this beautiful story.